20 grasstops outdoor recreation leaders from across the country will receive six months of policy training to advocate for conservation goals.
Washington, D.C. (May 29, 2024) — Today, Outdoor Alliance announces the hire of Taylor Rogers as Outdoor Alliance’s new Grasstops Advocacy Director. Rogers will guide 20 members of the first cohort of its Grasstops Collective, a leadership and advocacy development program that trains grasstops advocates to build relationships with policymakers and advocate for conservation priorities.
The Grasstops Collective program will train these community leaders on conservation-based advocacy skills, such as building meaningful relationships with decision-makers, including policymakers and their staff; identifying opportunities for others in their community to advocate for public lands and outdoor recreation; and legislative terminology and process. Advocates who graduate from the program will go on to advocate for conservation and recreation policy for years to come.
“There are many engaged individuals committed to public land and outdoor recreation advocacy, and this program aims to help amplify their efforts through their larger networks,” said Adam Cramer, CEO of Outdoor Alliance. “We see this program as a means for generating a ripple effect in the outdoor community that inspires more people to pair their adventure pursuits with civic engagement.”
This cohort of 20 grasstops advocates come from across the country, with various backgrounds, outdoor recreation pursuits, and leadership roles. They include leaders of local climbing organizations, executive directors of mountain bike, recreation, and trail running organizations, Indigenous leaders, outdoor business leaders, and a 10th-generation West Virginian. View the 2024 Grasstops Collective cohort here.
Rogers has worked in policy and advocacy targeting decision-makers from local city councils to global leaders, most recently having worked as the Senior Legislative Aide for a Colorado state senator. She completed a master’s in development studies specializing in Power, Participation, and Social Change from the University of Sussex in England, centering her career around facilitation, community building, and volunteer engagement.
“Grasstops leaders are unique for their meaningful voices in their communities, whether in business, nonprofit, or local government. They are the unofficial mayors who know everyone at the crag, trailhead, or put-in,” said Rogers. “I’m very excited to help coordinate Outdoor Alliance’s first-ever Grasstops Collective cohort and help train these grasstops leaders on outdoor policy and advocacy, so they can move the needle on conservation, recreation, and climate policy.”
If you’re interested in Outdoor Alliance’s advocacy work and how to get more involved, you can sign up to learn more here.
To learn more about Outdoor Alliance, please visit www.outdooralliance.org.
About Outdoor Alliance
Outdoor Alliance is the only organization in the U.S. that unites the voices of outdoor enthusiasts to conserve public lands. A nonprofit coalition comprised of 10 national advocacy organizations, Outdoor Alliance’s members include American Whitewater, the American Canoe Association, Access Fund, the International Mountain Bicycling Association, Winter Wildlands Alliance, the Mountaineers, the American Alpine Club, the Mazamas, the Colorado Mountain Club, and the Surfrider Foundation. By working with its member coalitions and helping mobilize the involvement of individuals to protect public lands and waters, OA helps ensure public lands are managed in a way that embraces the human-powered experience. Outdoor Alliance — conservation powered by outdoor recreation. Learn more at OutdoorAlliance.org.
